Electronic device with magnetic supporting structure

ABSTRACT

A linkage and a supporter are attached to a back of the housing via a magnetic element of an electronic device with a magnetic supporter. The supporter is drawn to a supporting position via the linkage to support the electronic device body and provide various angles for the user to easily operate the electronic device in several modes. Moreover, since the linkage and the supporter are attached via the magnetic element, when the electronic device body is overloaded, for example, a user applies overlarge force to operate a touch panel, the magnetic element is detached from the electronic device body to prevent the linkage and the supporter from being damaged or permanently destroyed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to an electronic device with a magnetic supportingstructure, more particularly to a magnetic supporting structure attachedto the electronic device via a magnetic element.

2. Related Art

To cooperate with operation habits of users, a supporter may be disposedat an electronic device such as a notebook or a tablet computer tosupport the electronic device at various angles. Thus, a user mayoperate the electronic device easily. Common operation angles may bedivided into high angles (about 70˜80 degrees), middle angles (about40˜60 degrees), and low angles (about 20˜35 degrees). At the highangles, the electronic device can be used as a digital frame or a stockmachine. At the middle angles, the user can adjust the electronic deviceto a proper angle when he makes a report with a projected image toeasily remind the user of contents of the report or touch the electronicdevice to control it and read and so on. At the low angles, the user canwrite easily.

The supporter can be divided into a built-in mode and an appendant modeaccording to its characteristics. A built-in supporter is usuallyconnected with a back of the electronic device. When the built-insupporter is not used, it can be folded and kept in the electronicdevice. When the user uses the built-in supporter, he can pull thebuilt-in supporter out to support the electronic device. In view of easykeeping and consistency of an appearance of the electronic device, thestructure of the built-in supporter is usually fragile. An appendantsupporter is an additional accessory, and the user can choose itaccording to his demands. Since the supporter is specially used forsupporting the electronic device, the structure of the appendantsupporter is slightly firmer. However, since the appendant supporter andthe electronic device are not designed together, the volume of theappendant supporter is larger, and the appendant supporter is not easyto take.

Generally speaking, neither the built-in supporter nor the appendantsupporter involves the consideration for operation characteristics ofthe users. Usually, the electronic device only may be supported at asingle angle and it is not easy to be operated. Furthermore, someelectronic devices are designed with touch screens. When this kind ofelectronic device is supported by the supporter, if the user improperlyoperates the electronic device, applies overlarge force or knocksagainst the electronic device carelessly, or the electronic device ispressed by a fallen object such as a book, the above mentioned load istoo large instantaneously, which usually makes the supporter without asafety protection design bended or permanently destroyed. Thus, it israther in convenient for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure according tothe invention includes an electronic device body and a magneticsupporter. The magnetic supporting structure has a magnetic element, alinkage, and a supporter. Two ends of the linkage are pivotallyconnected with the magnetic element and the linkage, respectively. Themagnetic supporting structure is attached to a back of the electronicdevice body via the magnetic element. The supporter is kept at a storingposition at which the supporter flatly contacts the back of theelectronic device via the linkage, and the supporter is drawn via thelinkage to a supporting position at which the electronic device issupported. When the supporter is at the supporting position, if the userimproperly operates the electronic device, applies overlarge force orknocks against the electronic device carelessly, or the electronicdevice is pressed by a fallen object such as a book, which causes theelectronic device to be overloaded, the magnetic element is detachedfrom the back of the electronic device body to prevent the supporter andthe linkage from being permanently damaged due to an overlarge load.

On the other hand, when the supporter is at the supporting position, theheight of the position of the back of the electronic device body atwhich the magnetic element is attached is changed via the magneticelement, and thus a supporting angle can be adjusted to provide morediverse chooses to the user. At the same time, the slideway may bedesigned for the magnetic element to slide in, or connecting blocks maybe utilized as the linkage to further provide position at differentsupport angles to facilitate use of the user. Additionally, thesupporter may be designed to include a cross-rod and a connectionportion extended from two ends of the cross-rod to provide largersupport area and improve support stability.

Consequently, a magnetic attraction between the magnetic supportingstructure and the electronic device body can be adjusted and controlledvia the magnetic element. Thus, when the user improperly operates theelectronic device, applies overlarge force or knocks against theelectronic device carelessly, or the electronic device is pressed by afallen heavy object, which causes that the electronic device body isoverloaded, the supporting supporter are not damaged. Furthermore, theuser is prompted about improper operations, and additional cost due torepair and replacement after the supporting supporter is damaged is alsoavoided.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device with amagnetic supporting structure according to a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing the electronic device with themagnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A˜3C are schematic diagrams showing the electronic device with themagnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing detachment action of theelectronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1 whenthe electronic device is overloaded;

FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device with amagnetic supporting structure according to a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6A˜6C are schematic diagrams showing changes of the supportingpositions of the electronic device with the magnetic supportingstructure in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A˜7B are exploded diagrams showing an electronic device with amagnetic supporting structure according to a third embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 8A˜8B are schematic diagrams showing changes of the supportingpositions of the electronic device with the magnetic supportingstructure in FIG. 7A˜7B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device with amagnetic supporting structure according to a first embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram showing the electronic devicewith the magnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1.

The electronic device with the magnetic supporting structure accordingto the first embodiment of the invention includes an electronic devicebody 40 and a magnetic supporting structure. The magnetic supportingstructure includes a magnetic element 10, a linkage 20, and a supporter30. The magnetic supporting structure can be disposed at a back 41 ofthe electronic device body 40 to support the electronic device body 40at a certain angle. Thus, a user may operate the electronic device moreeasily. The magnetic element 10 may be a magnet, a combination memberwith metal covering a magnetic object, and the magnetic element 10 isattached to the back 41 of the electronic device body 40 via itsmagnetism.

A containing space 42 is formed at the back 41 of the electronic devicebody 40 to dispose the magnetic element 10. An outer housing of theelectronic device body 40 is usually made of aluminum, a magnesiumalloy, or reinforced plastic and so on. If the outer housing is made ofa magnetic metal such as aluminum and the magnesium alloy, the magneticelement 10 can be directly attached to the containing space 42. If theouter housing is made of a material without magnetism such as reinforcedplastic, a magnetic material needs to be laid at the containing space 42to attach the magnetic element 10.

The linkage 20 is mainly used for connecting the magnetic element 10 andthe supporter 30. A first pivot 21 and a second pivot 22 are used forpivotally connecting with the magnetic element 10 and the supporter 30,respectively, to make the linkage 20 rotate relative to the magneticelement 10, and the supporter 30 may also rotate relative to the linkage20. In this embodiment, the linkage 20 is designed to be shaped like aflat plate to improve support strength. Besides the supporter 30 in theform as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the supporter 30 may be changed orenlarged to increase the support area.

The shape of the containing space 42 is the same as that of the magneticelement 10, the linkage 20, and the supporter 30. When the magneticsupporting structure is not used, the magnetic element 10, the linkage20, and the supporter 30 are kept in the containing space 42 to maintainthe appearance integrity of the back 41 of the electronic device body40. The magnetic element 10 is fixedly attached to the containing space42 via magnetic force. The linkage 20 and the supporter 30 may beattached to the storing position via weaker magnetic force. The linkage20 and the supporter 30 also may be fixed at the storing position inmechanical ways such as using tight fit, a fastening recess or afastening point, and they do not drop off.

FIG. 3A˜3C are schematic diagrams showing the electronic device with themagnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1 in use.

When the user wants to operate the electronic device 40 at a specialangle, he pulls the linkage 20 out of the containing space 42 to makethe supporter 30 drawn out together. At the time, the magnetic element10 is still attached to an origin position of the electronic device body40 and is unchanged, The electronic device body 40 may be supported at asupporting position with a low angle as shown in FIG. 3A by supportingthe supporter 30 on a fixing flat surface 70 to allow the user toperform normal operation such as writing.

When the support angle needs to be changed, the user only needs to movethe magnetic element 10 downward. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3B,the magnetic element 10 is moved toward the fixing flat surface 70. Atthe same time, the bottom of the electronic device body 40 is movedtoward the supporter 30 (or the supporter 30 is moved toward theelectronic device body 40) to make the electronic device body 40 closerto the supporter 30 to provide a supporting position with a middleangle. Thus, the user can adjust the electronic device to a proper anglewhen he makes a report with a projected image to easily remind the userof contents of the report or touch the electronic device to control itand read and so on. Certainly, as shown in FIG. 3C, the magnetic element10 may be further moved close to the bottom of the containing space 42to provide a supporting position with a high angle, and then theelectronic device may be used as an electronic digital frame or a stockmachine.

As a result, to achieve a multi-angle support function, if the outerhousing of the electronic device body 40 is made of a nonmagneticmaterial such as reinforced plastic, the magnetic metal laid on thecontaining space 42 needs to be extended to almost the whole containingspace 42 to allow the magnetic element 10 to vary different supportangles at which the electronic device body 40 is supported by changingattach positions.

Since the supporter 30 is pivotally connected with the linkage 20,however the support angles changes, the supporter 30 can flatly contactthe fixing flat surface 70 to provide stable support. To achieve thefunction of positioning at different support angles, the linkage 20 andthe magnetic element 10 can be designed to be tight fit or designed witha fastening dot or a fastening block and so on at the position wherethey are pivotally connected to provide fixing effect at differentangles.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing detachment action of theelectronic device with the magnetic supporting structure in FIG. 1 whenthe electronic device is overloaded.

When the magnetic supporting structure at the supporting position(including supporting positions in FIG. 3A˜3C), if the user improperlyoperates the electronic device, applies overlarge force or knocksagainst the electronic device carelessly, or the electronic devices arepressed by a fallen object such as a book, which causes the electronicdevice body 40 to be overloaded, since the magnetic element 10 at theback 41 is attached to the electronic device body 40 via the magneticforce but not in conventional mechanical fixing connection ways, whenthe load exceeds a magnetic attraction between the magnetic element 10and the electronic device body 40, the magnetic element 10 is detachedfrom the electronic device body 40, which prevents the linkage 20 or thesupporter 30 from being damaged or permanently destroyed.

On the other hand, to improve the support ability of the supporter, FIG.5 is an exploded diagram showing an electronic device with a magneticsupporting structure according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The supporter 30 includes a cross-rod 31. The width of the cross-rod 31is equal to that of the electronic device body 40. Connection portions32 and 33 are extended from two ends of cross-rod 31, respectively. Thecross-rod 31 is pivotally connected with two ends of the bottom of theback 41 of the electronic device body 40 via the connection portions 32and 33, respectively. At the same time, the magnetic element 10 isshaped like a sliding block, and cooperating with a slideway 43 at theback 41 of the electronic device body 40, the magnetic element 10 canslide in the slideway 43. Similarly, if the outer housing of theelectronic device body 40 is made of the nonmagnetic material such asthe reinforced plastic, the magnetic metal needs to be laid in theslideway 43. The linkage 20 is shaped like a slender rod. The linkage 20is pivotally connected with the magnetic element 10 and the cross-rod 31of the supporter 30 via ball-shaped two ends of the linkage 20.

FIG. 6A˜6C are schematic diagrams showing changes of the supportingpositions of the electronic device with the magnetic supportingstructure in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the supporter 30 is at the storing position,the magnetic element 10 is at the rightmost side of the slideway 43.Similarly, to maintain the consistency of the appearance, the linkage 20is shaped like the slender rod. Meanwhile, the slideway 43 is extendeddownward and obliquely with a shape which is the same as that of thelinkage 20, and the linkage 20 can be disposed in the slideway 43 tomaintain the smoothness of the appearance. When the user needs tooperate the electronic device, he turns the supporter 30 out. At thetime, as shown in FIG. 6B, the linkage 20 drives the magnetic element 10to slide in the slideway 43. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6C, the magneticelement 10 slides to the leftmost side of the slideway 43. As a result,in this embodiment, the magnetic element 10 may be located at differentpositions to provide different supporting positions with differentangles.

To position the supporting position, the magnetic element 10 or theslideway 43 may be designed to be tight fit, or be designed with aprotrudent dot, or a position fastening dot and so on. Similarly, sincethe magnetic element 10 is utilized to make attachment, if theelectronic device body 40 is overloaded, the magnetic element 10 mayalso be detached, a risk of damaging the linkage 20 and the supporter 30also can be avoided.

FIG. 7A˜7B are exploded diagrams showing an electronic device with amagnetic supporting structure according to a third embodiment of theinvention.

The linkage 20 includes a first sliding block 23 and a second slidingblock 24. The first sliding block 23 has two grooves 25. The secondsliding block 24 is restricted to slide in the grooves 25 via fixingelements 26 to allow the first sliding block 23 to slide relative to thesecond sliding block 24. As shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the fixingelement 26 is a cooperation of a screw and a nut. Certainly, the fixingelements 26 may be replaced by tenons or protrudent dots.

FIG. 8A˜8B are schematic diagrams showing changes of the supportingpositions of the electronic device with the magnetic supportingstructure in FIG. 7A˜7B.

When the supporter 30 is at the storing position, as shown in FIG. 8A,the magnetic element 10 and the linkage 20 are kept via the containingspace 42 to maintain the consistency of the appearance to make thesupporter 30 flatly contact the back 41 of the electronic device body40. When the electronic device body 40 needs to be adjusted to thesupporting position, the position is changed by downwardly moving themagnetic element 10 in the containing space 42. At the same time, thelinkage 20 drives the supporter 30 to be turned out to support theelectronic device 10.

Since the linkage 20 is composed of the first sliding block 23 and thesecond sliding block 24, the support angles not only can be changed bychanging the position of the magnetic element 10, as shown in FIG. 8B,the support angles can also be controlled via relative slide between thefirst sliding block 23 and the second sliding block 24. At the sametime, if the fixing element 26 is realized via a screw, steplesspositioning can also be provided. The second sliding block 24 can befixed at any position of the grooves 25 of the first sliding block 23.

As a result, the linkage and the supporter of the electronic device withthe magnetic supporting structure according to the invention areattached to the back of the electronic device body via the magneticelement. When at the supporting position, if the user improperlyoperates the electronic device, applies overlarge force or knocks theelectronic device carelessly, or the electronic device is pressed by afallen object such as a book, which causes that the load of theelectronic device body is too large and excesses the magnetic attractionbetween the magnetic element and the electronic device body, themagnetic element is detached from the electronic device body. Thus,unlike conventional supporting supporters, the linkage and the supporterare not damaged or permanently destroyed.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosureis not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinaryskill in the art may make various modifications and changes withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, thescope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description ofthe preferred embodiments described above.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

1. An electronic device, comprising: an electronic device body; and amagnetic supporting structure, including: a magnetic element attached toa back of the electronic device; a linkage, wherein an end of thelinkage is pivotally connected with the magnetic element; and asupporter pivotally connected with the other end of the linkage, whereinthe supporter is kept at a storing position at the back of theelectronic device via the linkage, the supporter is drawn via thelinkage to a supporting position at which the electronic device issupported, and when the supporter is at the supporting position, themagnetic element is detached from the electronic device once theelectronic device is overloaded.
 2. The electronic device according toclaim 1, further comprising a containing space formed at the back of theelectronic device body and allowing the magnetic element to be disposedand attached to.
 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a slideway allowing the magnetic element to be attached to.4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the supportercomprises a cross-rod, the width of the cross-rod is equal to the widthof the electronic device, two connection portions are extended from twoends of the cross-rod, respectively, and the connection portion ispivotally connected with the back of the electronic device.
 5. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the linkage comprises afirst sliding block and a second sliding block cooperate with eachother.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the firstsliding block has a groove allowing the second sliding block to slide.7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the secondsliding block is fixed at the first sliding block via a fixing elementpassing the groove.